Mainstream schools ‘fail problem children’

PARENTS of students in second-chance education centres believe second-level schools are not equipped to deal with their children’s problems, schools inspectors have revealed.

The views emerged during a visit to Youthreach Galway City, which has more than 30 students taking courses including literacy and numeracy, office procedures, art and design, cookery, consumer awareness, historical studies and child development.

The Youthreach programme offers students who have dropped out or been excluded from second-level training the opportunity to allow them take on further studies or access jobs.